Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom is the first volume of a genuinely funny illustrated middle grade series by Braden Hallett. Released 2nd April 2024 by Annick Press, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and paperback formats.

This is such a quirky and compassionately written book- Teddy has a lot of anxiety issues. His mind runs away with potentially catastrophic scenarios. It turns out, when he's really faced with a crisis on his first day at a new school, he's pretty good at figuring out what to do.

The plot is silly and over the top. It's not quite horror, but there's a lot of dramatic tension (mind control hamsters!!!). It's a bit dark in places, but nothing *really* scary. Teddy is appealing and sympathetically written.

The illustrations are excellent and abundant. There are maps and diagrams, some quite detailed, along with character studies and incidental art. Appealing and well rendered in grayscale pen and ink sketches throughout.

Four and a half stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home library, or gifting to a young reader of Goosebumps, or similar.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Teddy vs the Fuzzy Doom is a new middle grade book full of illustrations. It’s about a kid at a new school where things quickly start to get weird and crazy.

This was a good story full of fun illustrations. It had some humor and laughs throughout as well. I think a lot of kids will enjoy this book because of the humor and the illustrations. It reminded me a bit of The Last Kids on Earth series, which i know a lot of kids enjoy.

Thanks so much to netgalley and Annick Press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

As an Elementary School Librarian, I felt that this book cover and description would appeal to my readers. The cover art evokes the aspects of danger and suspense in the book and the description intrigues with its talk of a hamster takeover of Teddy's new school on his first day there. The illustrations inside were well done and added to the enjoyment and clarity (in the case of his asides with himself which was drawn as a line sketch version of his character) of the plot.

There were relatable topics for young children in the book such as moving to a new school, fitting in, finding friends, kindness, and valuing who you are just as you are. Despite the potential humor of hamsters taking over his classmates and trying to rule the school, this book's repetition to get to the apex of the action will lose my reluctant readers. Some of the plot points seemed to be unique choices simply for uniqueness sake rather than for one that would be relatable to the reader. The character's growth was a positive and important part of the story and handled without being heavy-handed.

Students who are looking for suspense, stories about making friends & discovering your own value, and who are patient readers, will like this book.

🐹If you are looking for a book about a weird middle school with brain-eating hamsters and lots of potty humor, then you’ve come to the right place. This book will satisfy all those needs and more!

🥛This book is ridiculous in the best way. The main character, Teddy, is an overly anxious kid in a new school and he just wants to fit in. Sadly, he is in a school infested with evil brain-eating hamsters who have names like Scrufflechops and Frekizor. Not the best start for Teddy!

🐹Oddly, milk plays a very prominent role in the story.

🥛There is a reference to The Secret of NIMH which is one of my favorite childhood books!

🐹There are fun and ridiculous illustrations throughout the book that enhance the story quite a bit.

🥛On a more serious note, underlying all the nonsense there is a great story about friendships and making new friends.

🐹This is a great horror comedy suitable for middle grade readers. Kids are gonna love this one!

Thank you @netgalley and @annick_press for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Thank you to @Annick Press Ltd. for the ARC. Young kids are going to love the mayhem and gross parts of this book. Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom was a lot of fun to read, but at times was maybe to much vomit humor. My students are going to find this book hilarious.